Aintree: Might Bite Heads Nicky Henderson Treble At Grand National Meeting

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Venue: Aintree Meeting: 12-14 April Grand National: 17:15 BST Saturday


Coverage: BBC Radio 5 live, sports extra and the BBC Sport site More information


Might Bite leapt fantastically to win the Betway Bowl as trainer Nicky Henderson celebrated a treble on the opening day of Aintree's Grand National conference.


The Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up beat Bristol De Mai, while stablemates We Have A Dream and L'Ami Serge likewise won.


Former soldier Guy Disney made history by ending up being the first amputee jockey to ride over the National fences.


Disney was the last of 12 finishers on Gallery Exhibition as Balnaslow won the Foxhunters' Chase.


Grand National: Runners and riders


Results and racecards


Listen: 5 live Grand National preview


'As great a round of leaping as you'll see'


Might Bite, the 4-5 favourite, showed no ill results from the epic battle when he ended up second to Native River in last Cup.


The nine-year-old, ridden by Nico de Boinville, just had one genuine opposition in grey Bristol De Mai, with Definitly Red an early faller.


Might Bite made an error at the fourth last however soon recuperated and was foot-perfect otherwise.


"He's a splendid animal and a pleasure to ride. He jumped with real charisma and gusto," said De Boinville.


Henderson stated: "That was as good a round of leaping as you'll ever see. He was just on it the entire way - he was doing crazy things."


Henderson showed the winner may contest the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November before seeking to safeguard his King George VI Chase title at Kempton.


L'Ami Serge (6-1) has actually finished second 11 times in his career, however made no error this time in the Aintree Hurdle.


He surged late under jockey Daryl Jacob to pass Supasundae.


It was a double for Jacob, and owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, after We Have A Dream (2-1) was a simple winner of the four-year-old juvenile difficulty.


Earlier, 5-2 chance Finian's Oscar, trained by Colin Tizzard, won at the National meeting for the 2nd successive year with a late flourish to take the Big Buck's Celebration Manifesto Novices' Chase.


Cornelius Lysaght, BBC horse racing reporter


Might Bite was spectacular on ground that wasn't perfect. One fluff didn't stop for a second the inevitability up the home directly that he would collect in Bristol De Mai.


It's fair to say that at the minute, specifically with Sprinter Sacre retired and Cue Card quickly to go, leap racing is a small bit except the type of equine star that takes the sport out of the racing town and behind.


But Might Bite, with his fantastic name and exceptional skill, could quickly be the one.


Disney completes course as Balnaslow wins


The 2017 runner-up Balnaslow, ridden by Derek O'Connor for fitness instructor Graham McKeever, went one much better in the Foxhunters' Chase.


Balnaslow (11-2) challenged at the second last, before pulling 2 and a half lengths clear of Bear's Affair.


Disney, who lost part of a leg in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Afghanistan in 2009, stated after the race: "It's very special.


"Riding with Jamie Codd, just in front of you, and Derek O'Connor and Nina Carberry together with, popping away - it's remarkable."


Lilbitluso, a 10-year-old trained by John O'Shea, was put down after falling at the Canal Turn.


Ladies' Day on Friday


Day 2 of the National meeting is Ladies' Day, with a crowd of about 45,000 anticipated at the Merseyside course for what is always a colourful celebration.


On the track, Irish oppositions Balko Des Flos and Min function in the Melling Chase.


Balko Des Flos, trained by Henry de Bromhead, supplied owner Michael O'Leary with a very first triumph in the Ryanair Chase - which his airline company sponsors - at last month's Cheltenham Festival.


Min was 2nd for Willie Mullins in the Queen Mother Champion Chase behind winner Altior.


Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen will seek to extend his winning record over the National fences in the Topham Chase.


Waley-Cohen, who has won 6 races over the well-known barriers, rides Theatre Territory for trainer Warren Greatrex.


Friday schedule


Live protection (Perpetuity BST)


14:00 -15:50: 5 live Racing on sports extra, with commentary of the main races likewise on BBC Radio 5 live.


Racecard


13:45: Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f


14:20: Betway Top Novices' Hurdle 2m 1/2 f


14:50: Betway Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase 3m 1f


15:25: JLT Melling Steeple Chase 2m 4f


16:05: Randox Health Topham Steeple Chase 2m 5f


16:40: Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle 3m 1/2 f


17:15: Weatherbys Private Bank Standard Open NH Flat 2m 1f


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Grand National